Gas-pressure regulator.



R. L. HIBBARD.

GAS PRESSURE REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. 1915.

1, 176,293. Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

WITNESSES N INVENTOR ATTORNEYS THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

GAS-PRESSURE REGULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latented a. 21, ieic.

' Application filed March 20, 1915. Serial No. 15,984.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Rosnn'r L. IIIBBARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sewickley, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas Pressure Regulators, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to gas pressure regulators, and has for its primary objects; the provision of a regulator in which the amount of mercury required is reduced to a minimum; the provision of a construction in which the depth of the inverted cups employed is also reduced to a minimum 1;' and in general to simplify and reduce the cost of apparatus of the character described. One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure l is a vertical section through the regulator with the gas valve in full open position, and Fig. 2 is a similar section V through the upper portion of the regulator,

the parts being in the position occupied when the gas valveis closed. 7

The body portion of the regulator is formed in one integral casting 1, the lower portion of which is provided with a gas inlet 2 and an outlet 3, the space between the inlet 7 and outlet being divided into two chambers by the vertically movable valve 4. This valve l. is carried by a stem 5 whose upper end is connected to the bottoms of the inverted. cups 6 and 7. The stem 5 fits relatively loosely in the tubular member 8 so that gas pressure from the inlet side of the valve is communicated to the interior of the cup 6. Pressure from the outlet side of the valve is communicated to the interior of the of the wall 10. The same result would be cup 7 by means of the tube 9.

The tubular member 8 is integral with the casting 1 as is also the tubular member 10 and around these tubular members are fitted the filler rings 11 and 12. The outer vertical surfaces of these rings are machined as are also the inner surfaces of the casing 13 and tubular member 10 so that relatively narrow smooth walled slots or grooves are provided for the lower edges of the cups 6 and 7. The provision of the smooth walled slots is advantageous as such slots may be made narrower than if their walls were relatively rough and uneven, such as is the case where the slots are'formed in a casting by coring. The smoothness and trueness of the side walls of the slots permits of less clearance with respect to the edges of the cups, and the quantity of mercury required in the grooves is less than where relatively wide v walls of the casing 13 and tubular member 10 before the application of the rings thereto. The inner and bottom surfaces of the rings, are machined as are also the opposing surfaces of the casting with which these inner and bottom surfaces contact, the rings having a driving fit and requiring no other means to hold them in position.

In order that the inner cup 6 may be made of a minimum depth and at the same time provide for a maximum head of mercury between'its inner and outer sides, the inner groove is placed at a level below the outer groove, the bottom of the inner cup is placed below the bottom of the outer cup, and the wall of the tubular member 10 is extended upward so that when the parts are in the position of Fig. 1 the upper edge of the wall is adjacent the bottom of the outer cup. This will be seen by reference to Fig. 2 which represents the extreme upper position of the cups, the valve carried by the stem 5 being closed at such time. Under these conditions the difference in head of mercury which the cup 6 will take care of, is indicated by the dimension A, such distance being equal to the vertical height of the cup. This difi'erence in head A could not be secured if the inner and outer grooves were at the same level even if the bottom of the inner cup were secured at the same level as that of the outer cup, as in such case the dif ference in head would be limited by the top secured by the arrangement of grooves as shown but with the inner cup made of greater depth so that its bottom was at the same level. as that of the outer cup, but this would add to the expense due to the deeper cup. A saving of mercury also results by reason of the fact that the two grooves do not communicate, as in such case the level of mercury in the inner groove would be raised and an increased volume of mercury would serve no useful purpose and would add considerably to the cost of the apparatus. It will be seen, therefore, that a considerable saving in cost is effected in the applicants construction, due to the arrangement whereby cups of a minimum depth can be used, and due to the fact that the filler rings, which make possible the narrow smooth walled grooves or slots, permit of the use of a minimum amount of mercury. Other advantages incident to the construction will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. In combination in a gas regulator, a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a vertically movable valve dividing the casing into two chambers, a pair of concentric non communicating annular grooves in the cas ing above the said chambers, with the bottom of the inner groove at a level below that of the outer groove, a pair of inverted cups,

, the larger one having its edge lying in the outer groove and the smaller one lying inside the larger cup and having its edge lying in the inner groove, and having its bottom lying spaced below the bottom of the larger cup, a mercury seal in each of said grooves, a stem carrying the said valve and the pair of cups, a partition constituting the outer Wall of the inner groove and extending above the bottom of the smaller cup and substantially to the bottom of the larger cup when the cups are in their lowest positions and the valve is open full, and means whereby the pressure on the inlet side of the valve'is communicated to the interior of the smaller cup and whereby the pressure on the outlet side of the valve is communicated to the interior of the larger cup.

2. In combination in a gas regulator having an inlet and an outlet and a vertically movable valve, a cylindrical cast metal casing above the valve, a stem to which the valve is secured extending upwardly through the casing, a tubular member forming part of the casing through which the stem extends and by which it is guided, an annular wall in the casing surrounding the tubular member and also forming a part of said casting and having its inner wall machined, a filler ring fitting over the tubular member and having its outer vertical wall spaced away from the inner surface of the annular wall to provide a groove, an inverted cup having its bottom secured to the valve stem and having its edge fitting the said groove, and a mercury seal in the groove. i

3-. In combination in a gas regulator having an inlet'and an outlet and a vertically movable valve, a cylindrical cast metal casing above the valve having a pair of concentric tubular members integral with the casting extending upward from the bottom thereof, a filler ring fitting around each tubular member to provide narrow grooves between the outer vertical walls thereof and the-inner surface of the cylindrical casing and the inner surfaceof the outer tubular member, a stem carrying the valve and extending through the inner tubular member, a pair of inverted concentric cups carried by the stem and having their edges'in the said grooves, and a mercury seal in each groove.

4. In combination in a gas regulator hav-' ing an inlet and an outlet and a vertically movable valve, a cylindrical cast metal, casing above the valve having a pair of concentric tubular members extending upward from, the bottom of the casting with a groove therebetween, a filler ring fitting around the outer tubular member to provide a narrow groove between the outer vertical wall thereof and the inner surface of the cylindrical casing, a stem carrying the valve and errtending through the innertubular member, a pair of inverted concentric cups carried by the stem and having their edges in the said grooves, and a mercury seal in each groove, the said outer tubular member being integral with the casin In testimony whereof I have hereunto signedmy name in the presence of the two subscribed witnesses. v

7 R. L. HIBBARD.

Witnesses: Y 7

ARoHwoRTH MARTIN,

M. L. JONES. 1

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

